Andrea Noble
Articles by Andrea Noble
Trump Tower evacuated; NYPD, NYFD on scene
First-responders in New York evacuated the Trump Tower lobby on Tuesday afternoon over a suspicious package, but quickly declared an "all clear" after discovering the package's contents. Published December 27, 2016
Inspector general nominees gain power, lose confirmation priority
The inspectors general for federal agencies will have new legal protections as they investigate waste, fraud and abuse in the incoming Trump administration thanks to legislation signed this month by outgoing President Obama. Published December 21, 2016
Death penalty falls to new low as voters seek resurgence
Use of the death penalty in the United States fell to a historic low in 2016, even as voters in three states passed ballot initiatives in support of capital punishment, according to a year-end report from the Death Penalty Information Center. Published December 21, 2016
Donald Trump’s election emboldens Christmas display proponents — much to atheists’ chagrin
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad joined Christian leaders and residents at an event last week to celebrate the first ever display of a traditional Nativity scene inside the state Capitol in Des Moines. Published December 20, 2016
House Oversight: DOJ, DHS have more than 400 cell-site simulators
The Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department have spent collectively more than $95 million on secret cellphone tracking technology and own more than 400 cell-site simulators that can be used to zero in covertly on the locations of cellphones, according to a congressional report. Published December 19, 2016
Judge orders release of Clinton email search warrant
A federal judge has ordered the public release of a search warrant and other documents related to the FBI's renewal of an investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Published December 19, 2016
FBI, James Clapper back CIA, say Russia interfered in U.S. election to help Trump
The FBI and the Director of National Intelligence agree with a CIA assessment that Russian cyber attacks on the U.S. election were intended in part to help President-elect Donald Trump win office, according to news reports. Published December 16, 2016
Justice Department targets Islamic State antiquities trade
The Justice Department on Thursday filed legal action in an effort to recover looted Syrian artifacts believed to have been trafficked by the Islamic State — marking the first time the U.S. has gone to court to obtain antiquities once held by the terrorist group. Published December 15, 2016
Dylann Roof guilty in Charleston church massacre
A South Carolina jury on Thursday convicted Dylann Roof of federal hate crimes and other charges stemming from a racially motivated mass shooting that killed nine black churchgoers. Published December 15, 2016
Chuck Grassley questions Abdul Razak Ali Artan asylum vetting
The mother of a Somali refugee, who last month injured 11 people in an attack at Ohio State University, told immigration officials her children were at risk of being kidnapped or recruited by a terrorist group when she sought asylum for her family, according to a senator questioning the Obama administration's vetting of the man. Published December 15, 2016
Bunker Hill in Indiana without police department after entire force resigns
An Indiana town has been left without a police department after all five members of its law enforcement agency resigned this week in protest, alleging mismanagement and unethical requests made by local lawmakers. Published December 14, 2016
Jeff Sessions AG hearing to go as planned, despite assertion record is ‘incomplete’
Beating back accusations that the materials submitted by Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions are both "incomplete" and too voluminous to review by mid-January, Sen. Chuck Grassley said he plans to stick with Jan. 10 as the date of the confirmation hearing. Published December 14, 2016
Congress moves to strengthen authority of inspectors general
Congress has taken notable steps to strengthen the authority of inspectors general this month by confirming nominees to two long-vacant watchdog posts and passing legislation to protect investigators' access to documents sought as part of federal probes. Published December 13, 2016
Obama to preserve Senate’s torture report but not yet declassify
The 6,700-page Senate report on the "enhanced interrogation techniques" the CIA used on terrorism suspects held after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks will not be released to the public before President Obama leaves office next month, according to the top White House lawyer. Published December 12, 2016
Loretta Lynch visits Virginia mosque amid spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes
Attorney General Loretta Lynch called attention to an uptick in hate crimes committed against Muslims as she visited a Virginia mosque Monday, drawing parallels between discrimination prior generations have overcome and warning that attacks on one group endanger all members of society. Published December 12, 2016
Trump team dismisses Russian hacking reports, bashes CIA assessment
President-elect Donald Trump's transition team questioned the veracity of assessments by U.S. intelligence officials that Russia-backed hackers interfered in this year's elections, challenging assertions that the CIA determined Russia sought to help the Republican nominee win the presidency. Published December 10, 2016
Obama orders review of Russian election hacking
Before President Obama leaves office next month, U.S. intelligence agencies have been tasked with completing a full review of all cyberattacks that have targeted the American presidential election process since 2008. Published December 9, 2016
Len Pozner, father of Sandy Hook shooting victim, compares fake news to ‘thought virus’
A father of one of the 20 children killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School spoke out this week about the spread of fake news and the threats he's received from those who believe the massacre was a hoax. Published December 9, 2016
Minquell Lembrick, suspect in Georgia double police shooting, found dead, authorities say
Law enforcement confirmed Thursday the man accused of shooting of two Georgia police officers is dead, bringing to a close a manhunt that spanned more than 24 hours. Published December 8, 2016
GOP, Dem lawmakers plan to probe Russia hacking role in U.S. elections
Momentum is growing on Capitol Hill for a federal probe into the role Russia played in interfering in the U.S. election, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers pledging to investigate Kremlin-backed hacking efforts. Published December 8, 2016